Lovell Field to Richmond International CHA → RIC
409 nautical miles (471 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 066°, about 071° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 46 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 28-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:21 am EDT (09:21 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CHA is VFR, wind calm; RIC is IFR, wind from the west (260°) at 9 knots. For planning, not a briefing: the legal preflight briefing comes from Flight Service (1-800-WX-BRIEF) or the FAA's own tools. Airlines fly this pair: 3 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.
The route the straight line, the warnings crossed, restrictions, pilot reports and the airports along the way · click a mark for its words
Green, blue, red and purple airport dots are the flying conditions reported there now (VFR, marginal VFR, IFR, low IFR); grey means no report. Red areas are SIGMETs, orange areas AIRMETs, hatched red areas temporary flight restrictions. Map tiles: OpenFreeMap, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Warnings the route crosses SIGMETs and AIRMETs whose area the line passes through or comes within 25 nm of
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the whole route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 30 to 260 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 50 to 230 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 130 to 329 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 80 nm of the route.
A SIGMET warns of weather hazardous to all aircraft; an AIRMET of weather that matters to small aircraft and to flying without instruments. "From 60 to 180 nm out" is measured along the route from CHA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E145 at 800 ft, 1 nm northwest, 2:07 am EDT (06:07 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 1 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
RIC UA /OV RIC340001/TM 0607/FL008/TP E145
- Report
- a routine report filed through RIC
- Where
- 1 nm north (340°) of RIC
- Time
- 06:07 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed
The eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 4 forecast points nearest it (TYS, TRI, ROA, RIC). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 310° at 24 kt | −12 kt | 132 kt | 3 h 06 min | 5:41 am EDT (09:41 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 320° at 23 kt | −6 kt | 11 °C | 126 kt | 3 h 15 min | 5:50 am EDT (09:50 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 24 kt | −4 kt | 10 °C | 124 kt | 3 h 18 min | 5:53 am EDT (09:53 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | −3 kt | 7 °C | 123 kt | 3 h 20 min | 5:55 am EDT (09:55 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | −5 kt | 4 °C | 125 kt | 3 h 16 min | 5:51 am EDT (09:51 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 320° at 26 kt | −7 kt | 0 °C | 127 kt | 3 h 13 min | 5:48 am EDT (09:48 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 320° at 28 kt | −10 kt | -3 °C | 130 kt | 3 h 09 min | 5:44 am EDT (09:44 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 310° at 29 kt | −13 kt | -7 °C | 133 kt | 3 h 05 min | 5:40 am EDT (09:40 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 29 kt | −13 kt | -8 °C | 133 kt | 3 h 05 min | 5:40 am EDT (09:40 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 29 kt | −18 kt | -20 °C | 138 kt | 2 h 58 min | 5:33 am EDT (09:33 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 32 kt | −22 kt | -32 °C | 142 kt | 2 h 53 min | 5:28 am EDT (09:28 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 37 kt | −28 kt | -38 °C | 148 kt | 2 h 46 min | 5:21 am EDT (09:21 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 34 kt | −24 kt | -48 °C | 144 kt | 2 h 50 min | 5:25 am EDT (09:25 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 UTC; temperatures above 24,000 ft are below zero. Heights are above sea level; a height is left out when the forecast has no wind for it over most of the line (the ground is higher). Ground speed is the airspeed less the headwind; the time en route is for the straight line and ignores climb, descent and routing around weather.
The forecast points as issued
| Point | From | 3,000 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 12,000 | 18,000 | 24,000 | 30,000 | 34,000 | 39,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TYS | used from 0 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -48° |
| TRI | used from 100 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 330/22 11° | 330/29 7° | 330/32 3° | 330/36 -8° | 320/34 -19° | 320/36 -34° | 320/43 -39° | 320/46 -47° | |
| ROA | used from 200 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 310/29 | 330/31 13° | 340/28 7° | 330/25 3° | 310/32 -8° | 300/32 -22° | 290/32 -31° | 270/35 -38° | 270/32 -47° |
| RIC | used from 349 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 270/23 | 280/19 11° | 270/18 8° | 240/22 4° | 230/39 -7° | 220/55 -18° | 220/75 -30° | 230/83 -39° | 230/64 -50° |
The weather now: both ends and the airports along the way public airports with a weather report within 25 nm of the line, one for each stretch
| Airport | Where | Conditions | Wind | Visibility | Ceiling | Elevation | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | departure | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 682 ft | 1:53 am EDT (05:53 UTC) |
| RZR Cleveland, TN | 20 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,600 feet, a few clouds at 3,100 feet Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | none | 865 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| TYS Knoxville, TN | 70 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,800 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 2,800 ft | 986 ft | 06:01 UTC |
| GKT Sevierville, TN | 90 nm out, 14 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 2,400 feet, overcast at 2,900 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 2,400 ft | 1,013 ft | 06:16 UTC |
| GCY Greeneville, TN | 130 nm out, 19 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, overcast at 700 feet Weather: mist | variable at 6 knots | 2 mi | 400 ft | 1,607 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| GEV Jefferson, NC | 200 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,200 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 18 knots, gusting to 33 | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 3,177 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| MWK Mount Airy, NC | 240 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,400 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,268 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| MTV Martinsville, VA | 270 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,600 feet | calm | 7 mi | 3,600 ft | 948 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| LYH Lynchburg, VA | 319 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,500 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 938 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| FVX Farmville, VA | 359 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 3,200 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 415 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| BKT Blackstone, VA | 369 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 437 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| RIC Richmond, VA | destination | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west (260°) at 9 knots | 5 mi | 900 ft | 167 ft | 1:54 am EDT (05:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,177 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RIC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:21 am EDT (09:21 UTC)
Wind from the west at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 600 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet marginal VFR
At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, a broken layer at 900 feet IFR
The whole forecast for RIC
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 600 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, a broken layer at 900 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for CHA, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at CHA 7:10 pm EDT (23:10 UTC), at RIC 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RIC is before sunrise there (7:14 am EDT (11:14 UTC)).
Each restriction opens the FAA's own page with the exact area, heights and times. Ordinary notices to air missions (closed runways, lights out) are not shown: the FAA's notice search is not open to sites like this one at this time.
Radar and forecast charts for the regions crossed government pictures, the latest each time the page loads
Sources: the Aviation Weather Center's data service (SIGMETs, AIRMETs, graphical AIRMETs, pilot reports, winds and temperatures aloft, observations and terminal forecasts), the National Weather Service radar, the Weather Prediction Center's charts, the FAA's temporary flight restriction list and shapes, and the FAA's airport file for the positions, elevations and magnetic variation. Fetched when the page is viewed and kept a few minutes. Each leg is the straight line between its two airports; airways, terrain and airspace are not considered. The airports in detail: Lovell Field, Richmond International.